Is it really “text neck” that is creating an increase in neck pain in individuals? Have we not been looking “down” for ages? My grandfather used to read the newspaper as it lay open on the kitchen table. My grandmother crocheted for hours. I don’t recall either of them complaining of neck pain.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen the pictures of someone with anterior head carriage and the increase stress in put on the spine. The human head weighs about 12 pounds. As the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine (neck) begins to increase. At a 15 degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it’s about 40 pounds.
We’ve actually been looking down for centuries. However, since the start of the industrial revolution in the middle of the 19th century there have been major technological advances. Unfortunately those advances have trended us to a more sedentary lifestyle. Sure my grandmother crocheted for hours, but she also spent much of her day tackling the physical requirements of living on a farm. Little kids still read books and practiced arithmetic, but they also climbed trees, ran around the yard with their friends, and helped with laborious chores.
The research is clear, physical exercise reduces musculoskeletal pain. This doesn’t mean you have to exercise for hours a day. Resistance training for even something as short as 20 minutes a couple of times a week can be helpful. If you’re stuck with where to begin, want to change up your routine, or learn some new exercises come join us on Saturdays where we host a weekly kettlebell class (no experience needed)!
